Ophthalmic mounting



April 9, 1929. J. w. wELsH OPHTHALMI C MOUNT I NG original Filed May 21. 1925 Jmias' we Z671 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,708,198 PATENT OFFICE.

` JAMES 'W'. WELSH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OIHTHALMIC MOUNTING.

Original application led May 21,` 1925, Serial No. 31,739.

The present invention relates to ophthalmic mountings, and more particularly to split-rim spectacles in which provision is made for removing the temple without dislodging the lens and removing the lens without displacing the temple. From a more limited aspect, the invention relates to spectacles having double-ear temples, and to temple connections for the same. The present application is a division of a copending application Serial No. 31,739, filed May 2l, 1925.

Single-ear temples are mounted in place by simply pivoting the ear of the temple between two ears provided upon one or more endpieces,one end piece in mountings of the rimless type and two separate end pieces in mountings having split, lens-holding rims. Temples having a plurality of ears are not so easily manipulated, particularly with mountings of the split-rim type. Une of the advantages of a double-ear temple is the increased bearing surface provided by the additional temple ear; and it is not easy r to design split-rim end pieces provided with sufficient bearing surface to cooperate elliciently with the bearing surfaces of the temple ears. Split-rim end pieces, furthermore, have a. tendency to loosen, thereby weakening the tension upon the cooperating bearing surfaces of the temple and the endpiece ears. Y

It is therefore an object of the present `invention to improve upon ophthalmic mountings of the above-described character. Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

With these ends in view, a feature of the invention contemplates a novel, double-ear, temple joint that shall be cheap to manufacture, rugged, simple, attractive, Vand not easily loosened, but of such nature that the temple may be pivoted to one only of the split-rim end pieces. The difliculties attendant upon the use of multiple-ear temples in split joints are thus eliminated, and a superior joint is nevertheless provided. The invention is, however, equally applicable to single-ear joints.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will appear hereinafter, the invention consists of the improved ophthalmic mounting hereinafter described,

Divided and this application led September Serial No. 137,466.

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section taken longitudinally through the end pieces and the temple of a pair of spectacles constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the said end pieces showing, in phantom, portions of a split lens-holding rim to which the end pieces are secured and of a temple -pivoted to the end pieces; Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and an elevation, respectively, of one of the end pieces shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is a plan of the other end piece; and Fig. G is a section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The illustrated temple 12 is provided with two flattened pivot ears 11, each provided with an eye 14. The split, lens-holding rim 2 is provided with end pieces 4 and 6, the latter of which is longer than the former and is provided with three end-piece ears, 3, 5, and 7. The ear 3 is provided with a threaded oye 13, and the ears 5 and 7 with -unthreaded eyes 15 and 17, the latter of which is countersunk. The temple ears 11 are inserted between adjacent end-piece ears 3, 5 and 7, the end-piece ears and the temple ears becoming thus alternately disposed. The temple is then pivotally secured in place upon the end piece G by a screw or other pintle 16 that extends through the eyes 13, 14, 15 and 17. The screw 16 is provided with an enlarged head that is seated in the countersunk eye 17, and with a terminally threaded portion that is threaded in the eye 13. If desired, a bearing sleeve (not shown) may be slipped on the screw 16, but the temple may pivot about the screw itself as a bearing. To remove the temple, or to remount it, all that is necessary is to manipulate the screw 1G. rlhe pivotal movement of the temple is limited by projecting points 24 provided upon the ears 11 and adapted to engage limiting walls 26 that are provided between the ears 3, 5 and 7 of the end piece 6. During such pivotal movement, the-bearing faces of the temple ears 11 bear frictionally against the bearing faces 28 of `he end-piece ears 3, 5 and 7. In order that the bearing faces 28 may contact smoothly with, and press with uniform tension upon,

2f` c messes' Y. y

the'beari'ng faces of the temple ears 1l, the thickness of the temple ears 11 should be equal to, or very slightly less than, the distance between the end-piece ears. So constructed, the temple will not swing loosely.`

It will remain in any position that it may happen to occupy, but it is readily 'freely movable to anyy other position between its limits of movement.

The end pieces land 6 are lsecured togetherby a screw 2O to maintain a len t 22 in po'- sition within vthe splitriin rllhe end piece 4l is provided with lan cuter face 3l, an inner face 33 and two side laces 35 and 37, connecting the faces 3l andr. An end 'lace joinsthe side faces 35 and. 37.. "he end piece G is similarly provided with an outer tace A39', an inner Alace l'l', and two side faces 'L1-3 4and 45, connecting the laces 3S) and di.

Thelonger end piece il is reduced in thickness to provide a recess /l7 tnat extends into the outer face 39 transversely across4 the width oi' theend-piece, troni the side .tace 43 Vto the side face 45. The shorter, end piece l is equal .in length to the length of the recess 47 'and is so shaped as to be received vin the recess, `with 'its inner face 33 in contact with the bottom wall of the recess 4:7.

y*The wall 53 ot' the recess 'forms shoulder 'that extends transversely in the direction ot the thickness'ol the end piece (5. rlhe end face joining the side faces and 37 provides a correspondingly disposed shoulder for engaging the shoulder 58. The screw 20 extends through the outer and inner l; ces

43l and 33 oit the end piece el' and through ihe bottom wall of the recess 4:7 and the inner tace 4:1 oi the end piecel 6. lhe end piece 6 is. providedr with a relatively very small socket 57 inthe bottom wall oli the recess e7, in'which is received. a correspondingly rel- Y atively very small linger 59 extending Jrem the ifa'cevS-B of the end piece 4l. Relative twisting movement of the end pieces 4l and G is thus prevented, and the danger that would otherwise exist of chipping the lens 22 at the junction G3 between the end pieces isthus eliminated.

Modifications within the spirit of the invention will obviously occur to persons skilled in the art, and allA such are intended to.V bc'included within the scope oi? the ap- Y pended claims.

l That is claimed is: ,1. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a split lens rini having two Aend pieces ol' different lengths, the portion y y ofthe longer end piece adjacent Lto the rim Vbeing reduced in thickness a distance substantially equal to the length of the shorter ,end piece to provide a recess for receiving the shorter end piece, the reduction in thick- 'j ness extending.transversely across the longer end piece throughout its width to provide ya shoulder extending transversely substanposed shoulder or'engaging the irst-nained l shoulder, the unreduced portion oi" the longer end piece being provided 'ivith more than two ears, one of the end pieces being provided with notchvand the' other end piece being provided with' a projection seated in the notch to prevent relative twisting et the end pieces, means for securing the end pieces together, a temple provided with one ear less than the. number ofl end-piece' ears, the end piece and temple cars being alternately disposed, and a plntle extending through the temple and the end-piece ears,whereby the temple is pivotcd to the longer end piece.

2. An ophthalmic mounting having, 'in combination, a split llens rim having two end pieces of di'llerent lengths, the portion of the longer end piece adjacent to the riin'being reduced in thickness a distance substantially equal to the length of the shorterend piece to provide al recess tor receiving the shorter end piece, the reduction in thickness extending Vtransversely across longer end piece throughout its width to provide a shoulder, the shorter end piece being provided with a correspondingly disposed shoulder i'or engaging the first-named shoulder, one o' the end pieces being provided with a socket and the other end piece being provided with a 'finger seatcd'iny the socket to prevent relative twisting oi the end pieces, means forA securing the end pieces together, the unreduced,v portion of the longer end piece being provided with more than two cars,'a temple provided with a plurality el ears, the end-piece ears and the temple earsv being alternately disposed, and a pintle extending' through thetemple cars and the end-piece'rears, whereby the temple is pivoted to the longer end piece.

3. ln an ophthalmic mounting, a lens riin having otlset end piece section'sfabutt-ing one over the other and edge to edge and having aligned openings, interlocking members on the abutting face surfaces, a retaining screw through the openings, one of said oilset end pieces having a plurality of hinge ear recesses, .and a temple having a plurality oi' hinge ears'litting intok the hinge ear recesses 5. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens rim having on one end a short oitset end piece section and on the other end a longer offset end piece section having a recess to receive the shorter section, a screw securing the short section to the long section, said long section having a plurality of hinge recesses, a temple having a plurality of hinge ears, one in each hinge recess of the longer end piece section, a pivot pin through the ears of the temple and the longer end piece section to hold them together and act as a pivot tor the hinge ears, and a locating lug on one section and projecting into the other.

G. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens rim having offset end piece sections abutting one over the other and edge to edge and having aligned openings, interlocking members on a plurality7 ot the abutting surfaces, a retaining` member through the openings, one of said offset end pieces having a plurality ot hinge ear recesses, a Vtemple having a plurality of hinge ears litting into the hinge ear recesses, respectively, and a pivot through the hinge cars.

7. In an ophthalmic mounting, a lens rim having on one end a short offset end piece section and on the other end a longer offset portion having a recess to receive the short section, a screw securing the short section to the long section, said long section having a hinge connection, a temple having a hinge connection engaging the hinge connection on the end piece, pivot-al means connecting the two hinge connections Iand a locating lug on one section projecting into the other.

8. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a split lens rim having two end pieces of different length, the portion ot the longer end piece adjacent to the rim being reduced in thickness a distance subst-antially equal to the length of the shorter end piece to provide a recess for receiving the shorter end piece, the unreduced portion of the longer end piece being provided with more than two cars, means for securing tho end pieces together, a temple provided with one ear less than the number of end-piece ears, the end-piece ears and the temple ears being alternately disposed, and a pintle eX- tending through the temple and the endpiece ears, whereby the temple is pivoted to the longer end piece.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JAMES lV. VELSH. 

